Osmotherley Market Cross And Barter Table

Sipping a pint of pale ale at The Queen Catherine pub in Osmotherley (a place that caused quite a media frenzy during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton as there is no other watering hole in the UK going by the name of Queen Catherine), I noticed this stone monument in the middle of the village.

A tall stone obelisk was holding court on the village green, which is known as the Osmotherly Market Cross.

Heading down from the Hambleton Hills and clinging on to the edge of the North York Moors is the charming village of Osmotherley, where between the 1600s and 1800s a market was held on Saturdays and a biannual cattle and sheep market.

This market cross was a simple affair, which I thought appeared to have ancient writing on. It turns out it was more “Baz loves Shaz" ingrained Osmotherely etching. The cross was erected in 1874 and replaced an earlier 14th-century iteration, but the steps are Medieval.

Beside it stands a curious five legged stone table known as The Barter Table. Significant for two reasons, this stone table was an unusual sight standing so close to the cross. It's a toss up and depends on who's story you listen to, but apparently in the 16th century the Barter Table was used as a stall for selling cheese and butter.

Others say it was the permanent pitch of a fishmonger, but perhaps more poignant is the story that when preaching in the North York Moors in 1745 at the invitation of the local Catholic Priest, John Wesley is said to have stood on the Barter Table and used it as his pulpit to preach to the people of Osmotherley.

The first Methodist Chapel in the world was subsequently built here in 1754.

Situated on the small village green, both the Market Cross and Barter Table can be seen from all directions upon entering the village.

The steps and top of the table seem to have been a bit patched up with concrete of late, which is a bit of a shame, and slightly undermines the ancient nature of the stone, but the table in particular is a really important, and unusual bit of history in this neck of the woods to be treasured.

I don't know if in fact, it's the only one of its kind, as I couldn't find any other information on Barter Tables per se!